IMPACT OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS ON GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS, AND ELIMINATING GENDER STEREOTYPES IN THE EU

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11 March 2013

Ian Hudghton (Greens/EFA) – It is clear that gender inequality and gender stereotypes are still common problems in the EU today. The gender pay gap is high, thus the pension gap is also high. Women are underrepresented on company boards, under-represented in national governments and in parliaments too - including this one. Reconciling work, family and private life is a huge problem for many women. More needs to be done at EU and national levels to tackle the many inbuilt barriers to equality of treatment, and I broadly support the calls in this report for more action to be taken. Amidst the widespread press coverage on certain aspects of this report, there is perhaps a chance that sight could be lost of the important issues which it seeks to address. Parliament should vote to remove some of more problematic aspects of the text and favour a final report which maintains a clear focus on tackling gender inequality wherever it exists.